Yours

Hermione hurried after Zabini as they ran through the forest. He has said that it was not safe to apparate and Hermione did not question him. But she could not help but question herself.

What was she doing? She was currently running through a dark forest, wearing only a robe over her night clothes, alongside Blaise Zabini, Slytherin and death eater. All because Draco Malfoy needed her help.

Was she insane?

Hermione had never really known Zabini. He was never one of Malfoy's followers, although the two were friends. Zabini never picked on other kids, he always stayed to himself. He had always been very mysterious, and although he was very good looking, many girls were wary of him and the darkness that was always shown on his face.

She shook her head. The only thing that mattered was that Draco needed her help. But more questions kept rushing into her head. What if Draco is fine? Could it be a trap? What if Zabini was really taking her to Voldemort? Or other death eaters? Should she run for it? No, Draco really could be in danger. But is it worth it? What will Harry think?

Harry.

Hermione had to refrain from smacking herself on her head. Harry. She had left a note. A brief and very vague note.

Harry -- Don't worry. I am safe. A friend needs my help and I must leave immediately. I will see you when I get back.

And I love you, Hermione

Zabini's face darkened when he saw the note. He shook his head though and kept quiet.

He suddenly stopped, ripping Hermione away from her thoughts and causing her to bump into him.

"Oof."

"Sorry," Hermione said sheepishly. She then looked around at the surroundings. The two of them were standing in front of a mountain. The mountain looked to be made of solid rock with thousands of caves.

"Follow me," Zabini ordered.

When Hermione raised her eyebrows at him he rolled his eyes and added, "Please."

Hermione nodded and followed. They walked into one of the smaller holes. Hermione shot a glance at the Slytherin and saw his mouth moving, counting the steps they had taken.

He stopped suddenly and faced a wall. Shooting Hermione a look, he whispered something and the entrance to another cave appeared. The two walked through.

They were standing in a small opening that had been transformed into a make-shift medical center. The conditions were not good enough to be called a Hospital.

Along the far wall of the room was a cot, holding none other than an injured Draco Malfoy. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. He was as perfect as ever. Her eyes suddenly registered the blood on the sheets and the sweat on his forehead.

Without even thinking she set to work.

"What happened," she asked as she started to magically sterilize her hands and his.

"Attacked by death eaters," Zabini replied. "Mostly dark spells were used including Cruciartus, Flambius, Acornicovus, and a resisted Imperius."

Hermione nodded. "I need bandages, healing salves, blood replenishing potion - lots of it, and later I will need cold water and a rag."

Zabini shook his head. "My wand is being watched for any signs of magic, I can help but you need to summon everything. "

Hermione nodded and began to transform objects and rummage through the medical kit she grabbed back at the burrow.

For the next two hours, Hermione healed Draco. She wanted to cry when she saw the full extent of the damage that had been done. It had been awful. Hermione needed every bit of medical knowledge that she had.

--

Hermione had done all that she could do. It was now up to Draco. She sat there keeping him cool by dabbing a cold cloth on his forehead.

"He really cares about you," Hermione heard Blaise say. Somehow, working to save another life had made Hermione stop thinking of him as a dirty Sltyherin who was going to betray her.

"He shouldn't," Hermione said. "Things ended between us a long time ago."

Blaise shook his head. "That doesn't matter to him. He hasn't been able to forget about you. I can see that your case is different."

"You mean Harry," Hermione said, clarifying.

His eyebrows rose. "For a fiance you don't sound too happy. Wonder Boy isn't what you want?"

"Harry is amazing and I love him," Hermione told Blaise. "He's just a little ... safe."

"I don't think there are many people who would call Harry Potter safe. Especially in the middle of a war where he is the leader and hope for the good side and his mortal enemy, leader of the dark, is willing to do everything and anything to win, and kill Potter in the process."

"That's not what I meant," Hermione said, slightly exasperated. "The relationship is safe and easy. And there is nothing wrong with that." Hermione added.

"Sure, sure," Blaise responded, not believing her at all.

Hermione glared. "I'm serious. I am very happy. It's just - being here and seeing him," she pointed to Draco. "And saving his life, seeing him like this. And now I'm talking to you about my relationship with Harry." She shook her head. "It's just a lot."

Blaise just shrugged.

Hermione dipped the rag back into the cold water and patted Draco's face with it.

"How did this happen?" Hermione asked.

"I told you. Death eaters."

"But why?"

Blaise hesitated slightly, making Hermione wonder even more. "Draco refused one of the Dark Lord's orders."

Hermione gasped. "Is he insane? How could he refuse Voldemort to his face? And with all the death eaters around? Did he not realize he would get killed? I swear, when he wakes up I am going to kill him myself. Why would he do that? What was so important that he had to-"

"He refused to capture you," Blaise interrupted quietly.

Hermione fell dead silent and stared at Blaise. "What?"

"The Dark Lord found out about you and potter. He always had a special interest in you but being engaged to Potter sent him over the edge. He was sending a huge group of death eaters, about forty, to go and kidnap you. The Dark Lord knew of Draco's skill and intelligence and told him to lead the mission. But he refused."

"I - I didn't know," Hermione whispered, seeing the man before her in a completely different way.

Blaise shrugged. "How could you?"

Hermione looked at the floor. "What happened next?"

"The Dark Lord started sending curses everywhere, not caring who he hit, and he ordered the death eaters to attack Draco. Draco tried to fight back but he was outnumbered by too much. I pretending like I was about to kick him onto the floor but I apparated him out of there. I don't know what I would have done if we were in our usual meeting place, it is undetectable and shielded against apparition.

"Anyway, I brought Draco here. My mother had set it up for me before she was arrested, in case I ever fell out of favor. Before my wand started being tapped I transfigured a rock into a bed and laid him on it.

"The last thing he did before he passed out was call out your name."

Hermione sat in silence. It felt like hours had passed while she sat there thinking. Blaise eventually stood up and excused himself, saying that he was going to go out and get some food.

Hermione just nodded and returned to her thoughts. Her mind was thinking of the last time she had seen Draco.

"What are you going to do the next time Voldemort sends death eaters after me? When we come face to face in battle, with countless lives at stake, will what we feel really matter?"

"Yes," Draco said forcefully. "How I feel about you, it's stronger than anything else. I would never do anything to harm you."

It seemed as if every time Hermione had an image of Draco in her head, he shattered it and showed her another side of him.

All Hermione had to wonder was what to do with what she was shown.

A/N: It's summer - I'm not the only one who hasn't updated in forever.

review?